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British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Slow Encounter

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.

The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight title.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.